Techniques for preventing information loss in a business to business message in an enterprise computer system

Abstract

A method of maintaining informational integrity of a business to business (B2B) message in a distributed e-business environment is described. A sent message is stored a selected portion of which is flagged. A corresponding response message is then compared to the stored sent message. Based upon the comparing, when the response message matches the stored sent message, if a portion of the response message corresponding to the flagged portion is determined to be substantially missing, then the missing portion of the response message is replaced.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of maintaining informational integrity of a business to business (B2B ) message in a distributed e-business environment, comprising: 
       (a) reviewing a sent message;  
       (b) determining if there is a first portion of the message to be stored;  
       (c) storing the first portion of the sent message;  
       (d) reviewing a response message;  
       (e) determining if the response message matches the stored first portion;  
       (f) comparing the response message to the stored first portion;  
       (g) determining if a second portion of the response message is missing based upon the comparing (f); and  
       (h) forming a restored response message.  
     
     
       2. A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the forming a restored response message (h) comprises: 
       (i) replacing the missing second portion of the response message with that part of the stored first portion corresponding to the missing second portion.  
     
     
       3. A method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
       (j) delivering the restored response message.  
     
     
       4. A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the B2B message is sent by a first partner and received by a second partner, wherein the first partner and the second partner are coupled to the distributed e-business environment. 
     
     
       5. A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the distributed e-business environment is a J2EE computing system. 
     
     
       6. A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the comparing is based upon a subscription rule. 
     
     
       7. A method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the subscription rule is managed by a subscription manager. 
     
     
       8. A method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the subscription manager is coupled to a workflow manager arranged to perform (a)-(i). 
     
     
       9. A method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the workflow manager is coupled to a delivery manager arranged to perform (j). 
     
     
       10. An apparatus arranged to maintain informational integrity of a business to business (B2B ) message in a distributed e-business environment, comprising: 
       a first processor for determining if there is a first portion of the message to be stored;  
       a first buffer coupled to the processor for storing the first portion of the sent message;  
       a second buffer for storing a response message;  
       a second processor coupled to the second buffer for reviewing the response message and determining if the response message matches the stored first portion;  
       a comparator coupled to the first and the second buffer for comparing the response message to the stored first portion; and  
       a third processor for determining if a second portion of the response message is missing based upon the comparing for forming a restored response message.  
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is a workflow manager. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the workflow manager is coupled to a subscription manager arranged to store a subscription rule used by the comparator. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the workflow manager is coupled to a delivery manager arranged to deliver the restored response message.